Gas-engine.



ING. 830,270

PATENTIED SEPT. 4, 1906.

R. WILLETTS. GAS ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 25, 190v5.

2 Eurams-SHEET 1.

Girnmeo;

PATBNTED SEPT. 4, 1906.

R.V WILLWJIS.I GAS ENGINE.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 25. 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1111611 For c7?. lffella.

Ui TEDl STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GAS-ENGINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 4, 1906.

Application filed May 25, 1905. Serial No. 262,195.

To all? whom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, REUBEN WILLETTs, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at Butler, in the county of Butler and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inGas-Engines, of which the following is a 'specification, reference beinghad therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain new and' ation of the pistons of myimproved engine` can be obtained, and by this construction and operationI am enabled to greatly increase the efiiciency of gas-engines and atthe same time-provide a strong, durable, and inexpen-l sive engine. Inconnection with my -improved engine I employ electric-spark ignit- .ersand have devised and put into practice novel means for automaticallyfiring each' cylinder of my improved engine at predetermined times.

Vith these and many other objectsinview, which will more readily appearas the nature of the invention is better understood, the

same consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement ofparts, Which will be more fully described, illustrated, and claimedhereinafter.

The essential features of the present invention involved in carrying outthe objects above specified are necessarily susceptible to structiualchange without departing from the scope of the invention; but thepreferred embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings, in'which-Figure 1 is a top plan view of my'improved engine, partly broken away.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view of the cylinders of my improvedengine, Fig. 3 is an end view of one ofthe electric-spark igniters. Fig.-4 is a' crosssectional view of the intermediate head of the cylinders,illustrating one of the igniters Fig. 5 is a verticalsectional view ofan air and gas valvethat may be employed in connecinders. -5 and 6, andin said tion With my improved engine. Fig. 6 is a top plan view of thesame. Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view, taken on the line a: a: of Fig.1,

illustrating an air-valve preferably used in connection with myimprovedengine;` and Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional view of one of the collarsemployed in connection with the connecting-ro s.

Referring to the accom anying drawings, 1 designates a. suitableed-plate carrying bearings 2 2 fora cranked drive-shaft 3.

4 4 designate frames carried by the bedplate 1, which support cylinders5 and 6 and serve functionally as guideways for connecting-rods 9 and10, these connecting-rods being mounted within the frames 4 4 upon eachside of the cylinders and in planes parallel with said cylinders. Theends of the connecting-rods 9 and 10 are provided with cross-heads 11and 12the cross-head 12 being provided Witha crank-pin 14, adapted to beconnected to the crank 15 of the drive or driven shaft 3.

In Figs. 2, 3, and 7 of the drawings I have illustrated theconstruction-of the cylinders 5 and 6 of thesengin'e, and referring tosaid ii'gures 16 ldesignate annular enlargements formed upon theconfronting ends of the cylenlargements I provide annular compartments'17. 17. The cylinders 5 and 6 are connected together. by an intermediatehead 18, having afpartial annular passage 19 formed therein, which es--tablishes communication between the annularcompartments 17 17 of theenlargements 16 16, .these annular compartments serving as Water-jacketsfor the cylinders of my improved engine. A suitable Water-su ply may' beconnected lto the water-jac ets.

The annular passage 19 is intersected by a radially-disposed 'peripheralprojection 20, in which two horizontally-ahmed openings 2O 20are formed,and in said openings .are mounted the electric-spark igniters elnployedto fire the cylinders 5' and 6 of the engine.- One of these'igniters isillustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings, and each igniter consistsof a headv 21, carrying electrodes 22 and 23. The electrode22isstationary and is insulated from' the hle'adfjl and is connected to asuitable source of'electric energy. The electrode 23 is in thisembodiment fixed upon a revoluble shaft 24, which is also insulated fromthe head 21 and is connected to a suitable'source of electric energy. Asthis part ofl my igniter is com- IIO ` mon to igniters heretoforedevised, I'have not deemed 1t necessary to det-ail the construction ofthese parts or to illustrate the source of electric energy,v as aconventional form 4of battery or generator can be readily employed. Mylinvention in connection with the igniters resides in providing theouter end of the shaft 24 with a depending arm 25, to the lower end ofwhich is pivotally connected a inger 26, having a beveled surface 27 andanupwardlyextending arm 28. The inger26 is normally held in alinementwith the arm byl a spring 29, secured to the depending arm 25, this*spring normally holding the arm 28 in en-j gagement with the arm 25.Another spring 30 is employed to normally hold the arm 25 in engagementwith astub-pin 31, carried by the lhead 21. The spring 30 is supportedby'an outwardly-extending bracket 32, also carried by the head 21. Inconnection with the cylinders 5 and 6 the igniters are mounted in theopenings 20 20 to rire saidA cylinders, one igniter being mounted. uponeach side of the transverse wall or partiti-on 33 of the intermediatehead 18, whichlserves to separate the cylinders and their respectiveigniters. The one side oi each cylinder is provided with alongitudinally-disposed rib 34, the outer side of which extendstangential tothe cylinders, and in said ribsl I providelongitudinally-disposed byaths and 36, which communicate with tcylinders 5 and 6 by ports 37, 38, 39, and 40. The ribs 34 34 areprovided with verticallydisposed passages 41 41, which communicate withthe by-paths 35 and 36 in vertical'linement with the'perts 38 kand 39.:In ,con-

structinglthe ports 38 and 39, which serve as y air-inlet ports, Ireferably so construct the cylinders that eac zontal passage-way 42,which serves, funcand each gas-,inlet nected -to asuitab e` supply ofgas. By referrin to Fig. 7 of the drawingsl it will be ob.-

serve that the gas-inlet port is entirely in dependent and free of theair-inlet port 39,

and the miniature` or comminglin of the gas andair does not take placein t 's instance until they have entered the cylinders. The

verticallydisposed passages'41 41 are provided with air-valvesv43 43,each valve con- .sisting of a casing 44, having a' spider-like frame 45mounted therein, in which'is mounted a vertically-disposed valve-stem46, carrying a valve-head 47, Whichis-normally held i-n engagement withthe casing 44 `by a spring 48, mounted upon the valve-stem.Diametrically opposite' the gas-inlet orts .42 42 and the air-inletports 38 and 39 provide the exhaust-ports 49 49, these ports beingbridged, as indicated at v5() 50, t0 support the packing-rings ofApistons operating in the cylinders from entering said'z'eXhaust-ports.The outer ends oi the cylinders 5 andv 6 are e interior of the port willsurround a hori- 'fresh supply of air and gas in the rear provided withsuitable heads 51 51, carrying a conventional form -of sturhng-boxes 5252, and through said boxes pass piston-rods 53 53, theouter ends ofwhich are coijuxected to the crossfheads 11 and 12, while the endsextending within the cylinders 5 and 6 are provided with pistons 54and55.- The ends of the pistons 454,and 55, confronting the partition-33 are provided with deilectors 56 56, employed to deflect the'air andgas around Athe sides of the cylinders to the exhaust-ports- In order tooperate the igniters A and B at predetermined times, I have provided theconnecting-rod 9l with collars C and D. In Fig. 8 of the drawings I haveillustrated one of the collars, consisting of a threaded sleeve 26a,which is secured to the rod 9 by a seti screw E. Upon the sleeve 26a ismounted the collar C, formedwith an annular tapering side F, and aportion of said collar is knurled, as indicated at G, to facilitate therotating of the collar upon the sleeve. nut H is employed in connectionwith the collarto lock said collar upofr. the sleeve. This constructionis employed in order that when the collars become worn they Ican bereadily removed and replaced by new ones, and it is possibleby'adjustably mounting the collarsupon the sleeves to minutely adjustthe same to properly actuate its respective igniter. The construction ofthe collar D is identical With-,the 'constructipn of the collar C, thecollarD being adapted to operate the .igniter Band the collar C theigniter A. f T

h ehperation of my improved engine is as follows: In describing vtheoperating of the engine reference, will be had to Figs. 1 and 2, andassuming that the pistons 54' and"55"are inthe position illustrated inFig. 2 fof the drawings, the 'igniter A is about to be actuated by thecollar C, ,and as4 the air4 and gas admitted to the cylinder 5 hasbeencompressed by the piston 55 the actuation of the igniter A isl adaptedtoire the compressed gas and air behind the head of the' piston 55' andforce the piston 55 to the lforward end of the cylinder 5. The cylinder6'has also been takin gas and air in the forward end of .the cyljn er,and simultaneously with .the forward movement of the' piston. 55 vthepiston 54 is carried 'forward through the medium of the cross-head 11,connecting-rods 9, and 10, and cross-head 12, and the air and as.admitted to the cylinder 6 is compresse in the forward end of. saidcylinder adjacent'to the igniter B. The forward stroke of the piston 55I )ermits of the gasesand vapors ari-sing from the explosion to escape.through the eX.-'. haust-port 49 vof the cylinder 5. vThe forwardmovement of the pist-ons l55 and 54 causes the collar D tol actuate theigniter B, which iires the cylinder. 6 and forces the piston 54rearwardly, the `piston 55 haring cleared the ports 39 and 42and-received a Al jam or lock TOO end of 13o the cylinder 5,-Which iscompressed/bythe rearward movement of the piston 55,.and I have reachedthe position ofthe cylinders 'as 'set forth in the beginning of theo'eration. This operation' is continuoustl'n'oug'iiout the working of myimproved engine, and inconv nection with this operation Vattention to.the'iollowing features. ,-When' piston v55 is-'in the position-illustrated in the Fig. 2 of th drawings, it will be observed that theair and gas inlet ports 39 and 42 are closed, but the air-inlet prft 40is open, which ward side of the piston of, the inrush of air thoroughlycommingling 'compression and explosion. of air to the forward end ofalso serves to cool this'end seL plosion that may remain therein.

the gas entering thecyl 2 5' permits of air passing throu h the by-bath36j Ile cylinder, and when the piston 55- opens the exhaustortthe air isadapted to cleanse'. this end o the cylinderand the exhaust-port.

into the forward end of t As the piston 55 isv carried forward the airremaining in the cylinder will be partly compressed until and drive outthe products ofthe former ex- The ai'lv 'cooling' the forward, end ofthe cylinder, to-

gether with the water-jacket, is adapted to keep the cylinder in as'coola state z place.; -By thereciprocating movement of the connecting-rods 9and 10 the -igniters A andB-are alternately actuated, and by adordecreased. The contacting. of the taper- ,in gsides F of vthe vcollarssi e justing the collars C and D, the speedatwhich the engine isoperated can be increased with. thebeveled S of the fingers 26 2 6 movesthe dependin g arms 25 254 of the igniters and causes an electric sparkwithin the cylinders, a reverse movement'o the collars only `actuatingthe ingers`26 26, the sprin s3() returning the dcpending arms 25 to tThe operation of the fingers 26 26 is obvious,

and in this connection may employ other mechanical expedients forsimilarly operating the igniters inl conjunction with the collarscylinders according to carried by the connecting-rods.

My improved engine m ay be' governed by a `conventional form of governorcontrolling the" may admit gas to the gas-supplypipe, which tliespeed ofthe engine, the

pression of the same. v

In Fig, 5 of thev drawings a combined air and gas valve is illustrated,which is similar in some respects to the'air-valve 43, with the Idesireto4 call as possi-` ble consistent with the explosions taking.

I.actuate said igniters eir normal position.

' exhaust-ports formed therein, governor being actuated" by theI drivenshaft 3. This manner of governing the engine, simply controlling andvarying the :mixture of gas and air, does not effect the com-y exceptionthat the base* 'of the casing 44 is rovided with-an annular' gas-passage45,

" avingav suitable' inlet-port 46', to which a ploying separate anddistinct gas-inlet ports, may einploy'the--air and -fga's valve, asillustrated in Fig. 5;

I have herein described electricsps'irk'i niters as the referred 'meanso ig-' e cylindersof my imniting t e gas within t proved engine," itwill of course be understood that various other types of igniters may beemployed, such as the jump-spark,

fine myself to a double-acting gas-engine of vand in 'this connection Idov not care to conthe type herein described operated by elec.

tric-s ark igniters.

It 1s hought from theforegoing that the construction, operation, andadvantages of the herein-described engine will be a parent withoutfurther description, and it wi l be understood vthat vario'us changes inthe form, proportion, and minor details of construction may be resortedto without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacriiicing anyof the'adva'ntages thereof. t

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

` 1. In a gas-engine off the type described,

the combination of cylinders, a partitioned` head mounted between said clinders, electric-spark igniters mounted 1n said head IOC upon each sideof the partition of said head,

water-jackets surrounding said cylinders,

said cylinders having air-inlet ports formed therein, said cylindershavingv exhaust-ports 'formed therein, said cylinders having gasinletports formed therein, spring.- pressed` air-valves carriedby saidcylinders, pistons mounted in. said cylinders and eXter iorlyconnect edtogether and adapted to alternately. operate, means carried by theconnecting parts ofsaidp'istons to alternately scribed. y 2. In agasengineof the type described,

. the combination with a suitable bed-plate, of

a head formed with a partition and cylinders, composed of aseparatefsectionof material from the cylinders and mounted between saidcylinders, said cylinders havin gigas-inlet ports formed therein, saidcylinders having air-inlet I io `sul2 stantiallyas deair valves'controlling said airinlet ports,

pistons-mounted in said cylinders, rods connecting said pistons, meanscarried by said head to fire said by one ofsaid connecting-rods toactuate the rst'- Timed means, substantially-as described.

` 3. Ir a gas-engine of the type described,

cylinders, and means carried the lcoiribination with two cfylinders andan intermediate heed formed o a separate section from' said cylinders'and having a central, transversely-disposed, partition and a radiallydisposed peripheral' projection formed Withopenin'gs, Iofelectric-sparkig- Vniters extend-ing v'through'said openings into saidhead, pistons arranged in said cylinders,

rods c :ar'riedA "pistons and means disposed exteriorly of t.e-plstonsfor connecting said rods together, andrneans cariried by saidcon'- necting means forvactuating said spark-igniters.

4. I n Aa gas-engine ofthe type described,

the combination ofcylinders,4 a partitioned headinountedbetweonsaid'cylinders, igniters moiited in said head upon each side ofthe partition of said head, watenj-afckets surrounding said cylinders,'said'cylinders have ing air-inlet ports formed therein, said cylindershaving exhaust-ports .forr'n'ed therein,

said cylinders having gas-inlet ports formed therein, spring-pressedair-valves carried by described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signaturel in the presence of t'WoWitnesses. l

' REUBEN WILLETTS.'

Witnesses:

ALBERT L. BoWsER, A. H.y CORN.

igniters substantially as n

